A POLICE civilian worker has received a bravery commendation for the way she handled a fight in a Coventry shop.

A shopkeeper had grabbed a meat cleaver and was threatening youths he believed had smashed windows in his shop, in Harnall Lane East, Hillfields.

Warrant officer Lynn Davies, who was working for Coventry police at the time, was passing the shop when she saw a crowd gathered outside watching a fight inside.

She said: "I went in straight away and it seemed like the shopkeeper had stopped someone he thought had broken windows in the shop.

"I caught hold of the man he suspected and radioed through for help."

Suddenly, the shopkeeper produced a large meat cleaver from behind the counter and began to threaten people in the shop.

But she managed to persuade him to put down the knife and back-up officers arrived shortly afterwards.

Mrs Davies, who now works for Warwickshire Police added: "Perhaps I should not have gone into the shop alone but I didn't stop to think - I just acted instinctively."

The bravery award was presented by Chief Supt Jim McGinty, commander of Little Park Street police station. He said: "Mrs Davies acted with little regard for her own safety, demonstrating bravery well beyond that required of her normal duties.

"She was calm and courageous in a highly violent and volatile situation."